Track based on cell-phone ringtone tops U.K. charts

Track based on cell-phone ringtone tops U.K. charts . Via USAtoday.com

| LONDON (AP) — A track based on a cell-phone ringtone famed for its ability to infuriate listeners topped Britain's singles charts Sunday, beating the new track from the band Coldplay to the No. 1 spot.

"Crazy Frog Axel F," inspired by a ringtone based on the sound of a man imitating revving mo-peds, was the highest-selling single in the list compiled by The Official UK Charts Company (Official Charts). The chart takes into account sales of CD singles and downloads.

"Crazy Frog Axel F" is the first ringtone to cross into mainstream music charts, said Gennaro Castaldo, a spokesman for HMV, the British music retailing chain. The track is a reworking of Axel F, Harold Faltermeyer's theme to the "Beverly Hills Cop" films.

The critically acclaimed new single by Coldplay, "Speed of Sound," placed second in the British charts.

"Crazy Frog Axel F" replaced the Oasis tune "Lyla" as the No. 1 hit. The weekly singles chart, which has been released since 1952, is based on the sales of 5,600 retail shops across Britain. The Official UK Charts Company didn't say how many copies of "Crazy Frog Axel F" were sold or downloaded, but earlier in the week Castaldo said it was outselling the new Coldplay track by four to one.

The "Crazy Frog" ringtone has grown hugely in popularity among young cell phone users in Europe in recent months. ||

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